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Story highlights

Africa's youth perish in dangerous journeys to Europe through the Sahara and the Mediterranean

Econet CEO Strive Masiyiwa is responding to this crisis by mentoring young people across Africa

Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)He is arguably one of the most successful businessmen in Africa and Strive Masiyiwa has an urgent message for young Africans: "You don't have to cross the Sahara. We can create solutions."

It's a timely message. Many of Africa's youth are perishing, risking their lives in perilous journeys across the Sahara desert on their way to Europe.

October 2017

November 14, 2017

CNN publishes an exclusive report exposing how migrants are being sold by smugglers. In addition to alerting the Libyan authorities, CNN hands over footage as evidence to the International Criminal Court.

November 17, 2017

November 17, 2017

Libya opens an investigation into slave markets operating in the country following CNN's exclusive report. The probe is being overseen by the government's Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), an intergovernmental organization based in Geneva that focuses on managing migration, welcomes Libya's investigation but warns that "the smuggling networks are becoming stronger, more organized and better equipped."

November 20, 2017

Alpha Conde, president of the African Union, and Federica Mogherini, the European Union's foreign policy chief, pledge in a joint news release to assist Libya in swiftly combating the issue of human traffickers.

November 20, 2017

November 20, 2017

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says he is "horrified" by the reports of African migrants sold as slaves. He says the footage demonstrates some of "the most egregious abuses of human rights" and may amount to crimes against humanity.

November 21, 2017

November 21, 2017

The UN-backed Libyan Government of National Accord, or GNA, say they are keen to address violations against illegal immigrants but argued that the international community -- and countries from which migrants travel -- should also take responsibility.

November 21, 2017

November 21, 2017

A Nigerian official tells CNN that repatriation of migrants from Libya is not a straightforward procedure before adding that the Nigerian government is working with authorities in Libya and the IOM to speed up the process.

November 22, 2017

November 22, 2017

France's President Emmanuel Macron calls the practice of selling migrants as slaves "a crime against humanity" and vows to press for sanctions. France calls for an "urgent" meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss this treatment of migrants in Libya, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says.

November 22, 2017

November 22, 2017

Diplomats at a UN Security Council meeting on human trafficking call for an investigation that would hold the perpetrators of slave auctions in Libya accountable. The council also adopts a resolution designed to clamp down on human trafficking and slavery.

November 22, 2017

November 22, 2017

Spain's foreign ministry expresses its "deep concern" over CNN's report. Spain urges Libya to follow the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocol on human trafficking, the Spanish Foreign Ministry posts on its official Twitter account.

November 23, 2017

November 23, 2017

African Union chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat tells CNN the situation in Libya is a "shared responsibility" that stems from the ensuing chaos after Moammar Gadhafi was ousted. He says that an AU representative has been sent to Libya to see what measures should be taken. Mahamat says he has asked the African commission on human rights to open an investigation so "concrete steps (can) be taken."

Masiyiwa, the founder and CEO of Econet Wireless, a pan-African telecoms company, is putting his money where his mouth is by traveling across the continent in a series of townhalls where he directly connects and engages with young people.

Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Chairman, Econet Wireless

At one townhall held in Lagos, Nigeria in September, Masiyiwa was so taken with one young entrepreneur's business idea that he donated $100,000.

Responding to the crisis

"I believe sharing ideas with each other is so important to the future of the African continent," Masiyiwa -- who is worth an estimated $280m -- says.

By teaching young Africans to be self-reliant and proactive, the telecoms tycoon is encouraging them to stay in their countries and contribute to the development of the continent.

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"I realized that if we don't do something to help young people create jobs in the African economy... that Africa's progress would be reversed."

"I understand we face the problem of corruption, bribery, bad policies," he says. "But it doesn't mean you should take to crossing the Sahara or the Mediterranean."

"We see the drownings... in the Mediterranean, young people trying to get to Europe," he adds. "So this is my own way as well to try to respond to that crisis which is to say, 'hey' to young people. 'Listen, let's do something. We can create jobs. You can be entrepreneurs, or you can work for entrepreneurs. You don't have to take this incredible risk.'"

Most influential business leader on Facebook

Masiyiwa has taken his message directly to the youth by mentoring and influencing entrepreneurs on Facebook.

He started posting business insights on Facebook after his daughter encouraged him to share some advice he gave her with a larger audience.

From how to spot new business opportunities to how to manage successful businesses or survive the challenges of running one, his Facebook posts propose practical new ways of dealing with entrepreneurial challenges in Africa.

He posts once a week on average and tries to respond to as many comments as possible.

"Every comment that I select, I answer as though the person were in my office," he says.

In 2012, he set up a $6.4 million trust to send at least 40 African undergraduates to Morehouse College in Atlanta, over a four-year period.

The couple have also collaborated with Yale University to sponsor 900 students who will attend the Yale Young African Scholars Program for three years.

Raising a generation of women leaders

In a continent where equality between men and women is yet to be attained, Masiyiwa is also leading by example by empowering women and appointing them to leadership roles in his businesses, a decision he says is inspired by the type of world he wants for his four daughters.

"You're achieving two things when you do this: you're making everybody including the men themselves recognize that you must take steps to promote the role of women in these positions, but also helping the young women understand that they can reach the top."